"Without doubt, sir," replied the professor, with cool determination.
"My dear professor," the emperor growled between his teeth, with a pretence of geniality, "you speak of rest and of rest and of rest. Good God, I tell you, the prince has had rest, months and months of it!... Do I ever rest so long? Life is movement; and government is movement. We can't allow ourselves to rest. Why should a young man like the prince be always resting? I never remember resting like that, when I was crown-prince! He may not be as strong as I am, but yet he is of our race! Excitement, you say! Good God, what excitement? Political excitement? That fell to my share, not the prince's! And I had no need of rest after it. And has a prince to go and rest when he gets engaged to be married? Really, professor, this is carrying hygiene beyond all limits!"
"Sir, your majesty has done me the honour to ask my opinion of the prince's condition. I have given that opinion to the best of my knowledge."
"It's rest, then?"
"Undoubtedly, sir."
"But how long do you want him to rest?"
"I am not able to fix a date, sir."
"How long do you want his marriage postponed?"
"Indefinitely, sir."
The emperor paced the room; something unusual passed over his powerful features, a look of anguish....